On the use of visualization in formal requirements specification

A limiting factor in the industrial acceptance of formal specifications is their readability, particularly for large, complex engineering systems. We hypothesize that multiple visualizations generated from a common model will improve the requirements creation, reviewing and understanding process. Visual representations, when effective, provide cognitive support by highlighting the most relevant interactions and aspects of a specification for a particular use. In this paper, we propose a taxonomy and some preliminary principles for designing visual representations of formal specifications. The taxonomy and principles are illustrated by sample visualizations we created while trying to understand a formal specification of the MD-11 Flight Management System